B^ural  life  ^urtiep 

"Country  C|)ttrt!)cs  of 
iBtstinrtton" 


DIRECTED  BY 

The  Department  of  Church  and  Country  Life 

ME  MISSIONS  OF  THE  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 
IN  THE  U.  S.  A. 

Warren  H.  Wilson,  Director 
alph  A.  Felton,  Field  Director 

6  Fifth  Avenue,  New  York  City 


JAN  19  1938 


of-       C-Viu-rcl-i     <kr\A.     Coaritry     L  >' ^ 

** Country  Cburcbes  of 
iiistinctton'' 


President  W.  O.  Thompson 

Ohio  State  University,  Columbus,  Ohio 
Chairman 


Warren  H.  Wilson,  Director 

Ralph  A.  Felton,  Field  Director 

Compiled  by  Miss  Lois  Neff 


PRESBYTERIAN   DEPARTMENT  OF  CHURCH  AND 
COUNTRY  LIFE 

156  Fifth  Avenue,  New  York  City 


®bio  Country  Cburcbes  of  distinction 

In  this  story  are  included  sketches  of  country  churches  in  the  State 
of  Ohio  which  came  under  observation  during  the  ( )hio  Rural  Life 
Survey  in  the  summers  of  1912  and  1913.  These  churches  impressed 
the  investigators,  who  visited  each  community  in  the  counties  surveyed, 
with  their  distinction  and  efificiency. 

A  successful  church  in  the  country  wears  no  sign  of  being  rural. 
It  does  not  advertise  farming.  It  has  none  of  the  complexion  of  a 
country  life  institute.  It  is  just  a  church  in  a  high  state  of  efficiency. 
For  while  every  church,  urban,  rural  or  foreign,  reflects  the  social 
environment  with  the  utmost  precision,  its- own  message  is  in  all  lands 
and  places  the  same.  The  greater  its  efficiency,  the  more  perfectly 
does  it  exhibit  the  signs  of  a  gospel  institution,  a  religious  association, 
a  society  of  spiritually  minded  people. 

The  reader  must  bear  in  mind  that  we  make  no  attempt  here  to 
furnish  a  directory  or  cyclopedia.  These  are  not  all  the  successful 
churches  in  Ohio.  We  have  attempted  to  make  a  selection,  bearing 
in  mind  both  type  and  denomination.  Many  other  churches  will  be 
found  in  the  state,  whose  people  may  recognize  in  the  churches  herein 
described  their  own  work,  and  some  of  them  are  doing  it  better.  It 
is  the  purpose  of  this  story  to  help  them  see  their  own  problem  and  to 
give  them  cheer  and  encouragement  in  work  which  sometimes  seems 
to  be  commonplace  and  valueless. 

We  have  attempted  to  classify  the  churches  solely  for  the  purpose 
of  making  the  story  readable.  Our  material  is  too  scanty  to  justify  a 
verdict  or  a  final  criticism  upon  the  work  of  these  churches.  They  are 
assigned  to  classes  and  grouped  in  a  way  that  to  those  who  know  them 
may  seem  arbitrary.  The  attempt  is  made  to  single  out  that  distin- 
guishing mark  in  each  church  which  is  the  clue  to  its  success  and 
efficiency. 

It  is  interesting  to  see  that  the  largest  class  of  successful  churches 
among  those  observed  is  made  up  of  those  which  can  be  described  by 
no  eccentric  or  peculiar  mark,  but  only  under  the  term,  ''well 
organized."  Evidently  symmetry  and  completeness  of  work,  the  well- 
rounded  plan  well  applied  to  the  task  in  hand,  these  are  the  signs  of 

3 


the  church  on  which  the  outsider  looks  with  satisfaction  and  with 
praise. 

At  the  bottom  of  the  hst,  represented  by  only  one  church  in  each 
instance,  are  three  small  classes,  each  of  which  has  its  advocates  among 
country  life  theorists.  These  classes  are:  "Musical,"  "EvangeHstic" 
and  ''Agricultural."  Among  all  the  churches  studied  only  one  was 
found  that  seemed  to  succeed  by  reason  of  its  atmosphere  of  music, 
or  evangelism  or  "rural-mindedness." 

This  story  teaches— as  the  old  writers  used  to  say— that  the  most 
efficient  thing  in  the  country  is  a  working  church  with  a  resident  pas- 
tor, diligently  developing  its  own  life  and  ministering  to  the  observed 
needs  of  the  whole  community.  So  far  as  this  story  is  a  contribution 
to  the  literature  of  country  life,  it  means  that  what  the  churches  need 
to  do  in  the  country  is  to  develop  their  true  organization  according  to 
the  Christian  tradition  and  to  perfect  the  type  of  ministry  common  to 
all  the  Protestant  churches.  For  here  are  as  few  signs  of  denomina- 
tional peculiarity  as  there  are  of  theoretical  and  academic  eccentricity. 
The  successful  churches  in  rural  Ohio  are  modern,  well-developed, 
Protestant,  responsive  to  the  needs  of  the  community,  and  filled  with 
a  conservative,  substantial  Christian  spirit. 


I.  WELL  ORGANIZED  CHURCHES 

Ihe  ten  churches  which  stand  out  above  others  in  the  symmetry 
and  completeness  of  their  work  are  distinguished  by  no  one  mark  of 
success.  They  present  so  many  aspects  of  good  church  activity  that 
one  can  only  classify  them  as  churches  well  administered.  When  one 
considers  the  great  need  of  organization  among  country  people  he 
cannot  but  think  that  it  is  well  to  classify  these  churches  at  the  top 
of  the  list.  Probably  no  greater  service  can  be  rendered  to  the  social 
economy  of  the  country  and  to  the  farmer  who  tills  the  land  than  is 
given  in  a  well-organized,  smoothly  working,  symmetrical  country 
church. 

It  must  not  be  forgotten  that  the  churches  which  are  of  value  contain 
many  of  the  marks  of  distinction  mentioned  later  in  the  list.  The 
group  here  described  is  assembled  by  its  evidence  of  mature  develop- 
ment of  the  Protestant  type,  according  to  the  needs  of  the  country 
community  in  Ohio. 

Kirkersville  Baptist  Church,  Licking  County  i 

In  a  little  more  than  two  years  the  enrollment  of  this  Sunday  School 
grew  from  35  to  175  members.  This  came  about  through  the  organiza- 
tion of  classes  for  young  people.  The  school  soon  attained  the  rank 
of  ''Front  Line."  An  organized  class  of  young  men,  called  the 
''Emergency  Class,"  has  a  baseball  team  that  plays  matched  games 
with  other  teams.  An  organized  class  of  young  women,  the  "Sun- 
shine Class,"  leads  the  singing  in  the  Sunday  School.  These  two 
classes  have  contests  occasionally  and  give  socials  and  public  enter- 
tainments. Other  classes  have  been  organized.  Some  of  these  report 
100%  attendance  almost  every  Sabbath.  W'ith  a  superintendent,  two 
associate  superintendents,  superintendents  of  cradle  roll,  home  and 
missionary  departments,  complete  organization  of  the  Sunday  School 
has  been  effected. 

Rev.  O.  L.  Martin  had  filled  pastorates  in  cities  from  5.000  to  25,000. 
A  special  course  of  study  in  the  University  of  Chicago  directed  his 
interest  to  the  work  in  small  centers.  In  the  spring  of  1911  he  accepted 
the  pastorate  of  the  Baptist  Church  of  Kirkersville,  a  town  of  300. 
At  that  time  the  church  was  at  a  low  ebb.  The  only  organization 
besides  the  Sundav  School  was  the  \\^oman's  Missionarv  Societv.     A 


TEACHERS'  TRAINING  CLASS,  KIRKERSVILLE  BAPTIST  SUNDAY  SCHOOL 

Baptist  Young  People's  Union  was  organized.  Most  of  its  members 
have  joined  the  church  during  the  past  two  years.  A  Junior  Baptist 
Union  is  one  of  the  inspiring  features  of  this  church.  Children  under 
15  years  of  age  are  taught  to  conduct  their  own  services,  to  read  the 
Bible  and  lead  in  prayer.  A  Baptist  Sisterhood  was  organized  for  the 
special  object  of  helping  to  procure  funds  to  build  and  equip  a  modern 
church  building  which  is  to  be  erected  in  1914.  The  Woman's  Mis- 
sionary Society,  also  interested  in  securing  money  for  the  new  building, 
meets  every  appointment  of  the  denominational  missionary  societies. 
Student  volunteers,  students  of  different  nationalities  and  missionaries 
often  visit  this  school  and  make  short  addresses. 


Nev;^  Waterford  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Columbiana  County 

Of  the  165  members  of  this  church,  there  are  85 — 25  women, 
40  young  men  and  women  and  20  boys  and  girls — who  are  engaged  in 
the  systematic  study  of  missions.  Until  three  years  ago  scarcely  any 
attention  was  paid  to  missions.  Interest  was  aroused  by  the  \\' omen's 
Foreign  ^Missionary  Society  under  the  leadership  of  the  pastor's  wife. 
Every  member  of  the  church  was  provided  with  missionary  literature. 
Monthly  meetings  for  careful  study  were  held  by  the  women ;  quar- 

6 


terly  teas  were  given  at  which  a  thank-offering  was  made.  The 
young  men  and  women  met  twice  a  month,  when  a  discussion  of  the 
assigned  lesson  was  followed  by  refreshments  and  a  social  hour.  A 
missionary  lil)rary  was  introduced  and  missionary  addresses  were 
given. 

Farmers  Institutes  form  a  part  of  this  church's  program.  A  lecture 
course  is  given  under  the  direction  of  the  Ladies'  Aid  Societies  of 
this  church  and  the  Presbyterian  Church.  The  village  of  New  Water- 
ford  has  580  inhabitants  and  3  churches.  Rev.  J.  H.  Conkle,  former 
pastor  of  this  church,  who  is  now  75  years  of  age,  has  retired  from 
the  ministry.     He  was  succeeded  October  1,  1913,  by  Rev.  C.  M.  Kirk. 


Yellow^  Creek  Presbyterian  Church,  Columbiana  County 

There  is  a  Woman's  Home  and  Foreign  Missionary  Society,  a  mis- 
sionary society  among  the  young  men  and  women  and  a  mission  band 
for  the  children.  Besides  sending  a  box  to  the  Freedmen,  the  amount 
of  $425  was  sent  to  mission  boards  last  year.  Contributions  were  also 
made  to  objects  not  in  the  presbyterial  list. 

The  finances  of  this  church  are  managed  by  the  efficient  Treasurer 
and  Trustees  with  a  system  much  like  that  of  a  bank.  The  matter  of 
funds  is  always  quietly  discharged.  The  amount  of  $600  was  spent  on 
repairs  last  year.  Only  those  immediately  transacting  the  business 
knew  anything  about  it. 

The  "Brick  Church,"  as  it  is  popularly  known,  is  situated  in  the 
open  country  in  what  is  known  far  and  wide  as  "Scotch  Settlement/' 
It  is  the  only  church  edifice  within  a  radius  of  from  two  to  three  miles. 
For  more  than  eighty  years  this  church  has  had  the  unfailing  support 
of  the  community.  No  weather  has  been  sufficiently  severe  or  roads 
so  impassable  as  to  effect  a  marked  decline  in  church  attendance. 
There  is  a  membership  of  150.  During  the  winter  time  the  attendance 
is  from  125  to  150.     In  the  summer  it  ranges  from  150  to  200. 

The  church  plant  is  one  of  the  best  in  the  open  country  in  the  eastern 
part  of  Ohio.  The  present  structure  of  red  brick  was  erected  in  1878 
at  a  cost  of  $10,000.  It  has  two  stories;  the  auditorium  is  in  the 
upper  part.  Below  there  is  a  large  lecture  room  used  for  prayer 
meeting  besides  two  smaller  rooms.  A  parsonage  valued  at  $2,000 
adjoins  the  church.  Rev.  Henry  P.  Senders  gives  full  time  to  Yellow 
Creek  Church.  He  is  a  young  and  progressive  man,  eager  to  lead  his 
people  into  making  the  church  a  real  community  center. 

7 


Jefferson  First  Congregational  Church,  Ashtabula  County 

In  1908  a  large  addition  was  made  to  this  church.  The  new  part  of 
the  church  building  provides  for  a  dining  room,  kitchen,  parlor,  room 
for  primary  department  and  separate  class  rooms.  The  trustees  make 
out  a  budget  each  year  for  home  expenses  and  for  missions,  and  pledges 
are  secured  for  the  work  of  the  church.  All  money  is  paid  into  the 
treasury  on  the  weekly  envelope  system,  and  home  expenses  and  the 
apportionment  for  missions  have  been  paid.  All  the  ladies'  work  is 
done  through  one  organization.  There  is  a  well  attended  men's  class 
which  meets  every  Sunday.  The  pastor  is  Scout  Master  of  an  enthu- 
siastic troop  of  Boy  Scouts  of  the  village.  The  troop  includes  boys 
of  all  denominations.  Catholic  as  well  as  Protestant.  The  Rev.  J.  A. 
Goodrich  is  pastor  of  this  church. 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Croton,  Licking  County 

For  ten  years  this  church  has  maintained  a  steady  growth.  The 
interest  centers  chiefly  in  the  teaching  function  of  the  Sunday  School 
and  pulpit.  The  former  is  equipped  with  an  able  corps  of  teachers 
who  are  regular  in  attendance.  The  classes  are  full ;  the  attendance 
averages  40  per  cent,  men  and  boys.  The  pastor  teaches  the  Men's 
Bible  Class  known  as  the  "Hustlers."  There  is  a  Bible  history  class, 
also  one  for  mission  study.  The  pastor  has  organized  a  troup  of  Boy 
Scouts.  The  Woman's  Society  have  a  social  session  every  month. 
Men's  activities  are  arranged  through  the  Sunday  School.  A  weekly 
devotional  service  is  one  of  the  growing  sources  of  power.  In  1913, 
75  persons  were  added  to  the  church  roll.  The  pastor  of  this  church 
is  Rev.  R.  G.  Bowden. 

Frazeysburg  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Muskingum  County 

This  church  formerly  was  a  two-week  appointment.  The  pastor 
arranged  for  services  every  Sunday.  The  Sunday  school  had  been 
accustomed  to  meet  in  the  afternoon ;  it  began  holding  its  session  in 
the  morning.  The  attendance  rapidly  increased  from  85  to  140.  The 
time  of  the  meeting  of  the  Epworth  League  was  changed,  and  marked 
increase  in  attendance  was  the  result.  A  Brotherhood  was  organized 
and  the  men's  Bible  class  was  bnilt  up.  The  men  were  called  together 
for  a  social  hour.  Refreshments  were  served  and  short  talks  were 
given  and  an  address  was  delivered  by  a  special  speaker.  This  class 
now  numbers  50. 


Adamsville  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Muskingum  County 

Each  member  of  this  church  is  sent  a  Hst  of  the  members  of  the 
church,  a  hst  of  the  meml)ers  of  the  Sunday  School,  also  a  list  of  the 
nieml)ers  of  the  \'ouni^  People's  Society.  This  method  has  Ijcen  found 
invahiable  in  keeping  the  members  of  the  church  in  touch  with  one 
another.  The  budget  system  is  used  in  managing  the  finances.  A 
contest  in  the  Sunday  School  which  lasted  six  months  resuUed  in  an 
increase  of  200  per  cent,  in  enrollment  and  400  per  cent,  in  average 
attendance. 

Cherry  Fork  United  Presbyterian  Church,  Adams  County 

This  church  conducts  meetings  in  district  school  houses.  These  are 
either  for  evangelism,  social  fellowship,  or  called  for  the  purpose  of 
discussing  questions  of  special  interest  to  the  community.  A  folding 
organ  has  been  purchased  for  use  at  these  school  house  meetings  and 
a  choir  recruited  from  the  school  district  leads  the  singing  at  evan- 
gelistic services.  Both  Sunday  School  and  prayer  meeting  are  held 
in  a  needy  district  without  the  assistance  of  the  pastor. 

There  are  unorganized  meetings  for  men  :  there  are  general  social 
gatherings  for  the  women  of  the  community ;  the  Young  People's 
Society  has  frequent  socials.  Last  spring  a  nuisic  festival  was  con- 
ducted for  twelve  days.  As  a  result  of  all  these  activities  112  have 
joined  the  church  during  the  j)ast  three  and  a  half  years — 90%  of 
these  were  on  confession. 

The  contributions  to  the  church  boards  last  year  amounted  to 
$1,250;  all  financial  obligations  are  promptly  met.  This  church 
organization  is  now  110  years  old.  It  has  a  meml)ership  of  222.  The 
pastor  is  Rev.  Frank  Boyd,  Cherry  Fork,  Ohio. 

Brethren  Church,  West  Alexandria,   Preble   County 

In  co-operation  with  a  sister  church  seven  miles  away,  the  Brethren 
Church  of  West  Alexandria  published  "The  Brethren  Voice,"  a  parish 
paper  of  twelve  pages.  After  a  year's  experiment  the  other  church 
withdrew,  but  the  Brethren  Church  at  West  Alexandria  continue  to 
publish  a  parish  paper  under  the  same  name.  In  this  paper  there  are 
personal  items  wdiich  make  special  reference  to  the  young  people  of 
the  church  who  are  away  at  college,  or  have  recently  entered  profes- 
sional or  business  life;  there  are  accounts  of  any  social  times  included 
in  the  church's  program ;  detailed  announcements  of  special  services, 
such  as  Rally  Day  or  Communion  ;  1)rief  report  of  meeting  of  Official 

9 


Board;  a  resume  of  the  activities  of  the  Sunday  School  and  of  other 
organizations.  In  this  way  a  medium  between  church  and  people  is 
provided. 

For  years  this  church  was  contented  with  half-time  preaching. 
Beginning  with  September,  1911,  they  employed  the  present  pastor. 
Rev.  J.  A.  Garber,  for  full  time  at  a  salary  that  increased  the  yearly 
budget  more  than  half.  The  finances  of  this  church  are  managed  by  a 
committee  of  five  men  who  aim  to  secure  a  personal  subscription  both 
to  current  expenses  and  missions  from  each  member.  A  carton  of 
envelopes  prepared  by  the  Duplex  Company  is  provided  each  con- 
tributor. 

Periodical  socials  are  held  under  the  direction  of  one  of  the  four 
organized  classes  or  the  Christian  Endeavor.  Other  social-business 
meetings  are  the  ''All  Day"  meeting  on  New  Year's  Day,  when  a 
dinner  is  prepared  at  the  church,  reports  of  the  past  year  are  received 
and  plans  for  the  coming  year  are  formulated ;  the  men's  annual  dinner 
in  March  and  the  yearly  outing  or  picnic  for  Sunday  School  and 
Church  in  August. 

Cadiz  Presbyterian  Church,  Harrison  County 

The  pastor  of  this  church  makes  the  month  of  October  a  rally  sea- 
son in  all  departments  of  church  work.     He  closes  this  period  with  a 


AUDITORIUM,   CADIZ   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH 

10 


roll  call  communion,  at  which  the  roll  of  the  entire  congregation  is 
called.  The  church  auditorium  has  been  taxed  both  times  to  accom- 
modate the  people.  In  the  month  of  May  the  annual  congregational 
meeting  is  held.  On  this  occasion  a  church  supper  follows  the  busi- 
ness meeting;  then  a  reception  for  the  new  members  and  a  congrega- 
tional social  are  held.     About  400  people  are  present  on  this  occasion. 

Among  the  organized  classes  in  the  Sunday  School  is  a  men's 
Brotherhood.  A  member  of  this  class  leads  the  prayer  meeting  the 
third  Wednesday  every  month. 

This  church  has  6C9  members,  250  of  whom  live  in  the  country.  The 
parish  covers  about  100  square  miles.  Within  the  past  two  years  170 
members  were  added  to  the  church  roll. 

The  interior  of  the  church  was  recently  beautified  and  improved 
architecturally.  A  modern  steam  heating  plant  was  installed.  An 
acousticon  is  to  be  added  in  the  near  future.  In  addition  to  con- 
tributing to  funds  necessary  for  the  current  expenses,  last  year  this 
church  made  gifts  to  benevolences  which  amounted  to  almost  $2,500. 
Rev.  Rodolph  P.  Lippincott  has  been  pastor  for  the  last  two  years. 


II.     FINANCIALLY  EFFICIENT  CHURCHES 

All  rural  observers  agree  that  the  farmer  is  untrained  in  giving. 
Everyone  who  knows  the  country  church  appreciates  the  problem  of 
church  finance.  In  all  the  denominations  efforts  are  made  to  bring  the 
country  churches  to  self-support  and  a  financial  efficiency.  There  is 
no  greater  or  harder  problem  than  this.  We  give  here  the  list  of 
churches,  six  in  number,  which  have  attained  a  mature  financial  sys- 
tem. The  estimate  put  upon  them  is  their  own.  They  may  be  trusted 
to  bear  witness  for  themselves  as  to  their  greatest  claim  to  distinction. 

There  is  a  special  significance  in  the  financially  effective  country 
church.  The  farmer  in  the  country  has  not  until  recently  had  an 
income  in  terms  of  money.  The  older  men  on  the  farms  in  Ohio 
remember  the  time  when  money  was  but  little  used  in  the  country  com- 
munity. The  minister  was  paid  very  little  in  cash  and  very  much  in 
produce  and  other  commodities.  Within  the  lifetime  of  farmers  now- 
living  the  transformation  has  had  to  be  made  from  an  economy  in 
which  the  countryman  lived  by  what  he  produced  to  an  economy  in 
which  he  pays  at  the  store  for  almost  all  that  he  consumes.  The  church 
has  had  to  share  in  this  change.     It  has  been  a  hard  struggle  for  the; 

11 


church  to  secure  an  income  for  its  minister  out  of  the  new  income 
secured  by  the  farmer  from  the  land.  The  very  fact  that  the  farmer 
has  not  long  had  an  income  himself  makes  him  slow  in  his  contribu- 
tion to  the  church.  He  does  not  yet  feel  sure  that  he  belongs  to  the 
money-spending  classes.  The  story  of  those  churches  which  have 
trained  the  farmer  to  give,  is,  therefore,  of  brilliant  and  peculiar 
interest. 

Jerusalem  English  Lutheran  Church,  Morgan  County 

The  Jerusalem  church  may  be  considered  unic|ue  among  the  country 
churches  of  its  section  because  of  its  success  with  its  finances.  Its 
slogan  is,  "A  pledged  regular  contribution  from  every  member."  Bi- 
monthly envelopes  are  used.  It  maintains  an  annual  budget  twice  as 
large  as  some  neighboring  churches  and  does  it  with  dignity,  while 
some  of  the  others  in  equally  prosperous  communities  quibble  over 
finances  to  a  degree  humiliating  to  both  minister  and  church  officials. 

First  Baptist  Church  of  Byesville,  Guernsey  County 

This  church  was  thoroughly  organized  under  the  "Company  Plan" 
by  Rev.  W.  H.  Wilson,  the  originator  of  this  method,  who  for  nine 
years  was  the  pastor  of  this  church.  According  to  this  plan  the 
church  membership  is  divided  into  companies  of  six  members  each, 
who  in  turn  solicit  the  offerings,  keeping  their  own  records  on  cards 
provided  for  that  purpose.  The  cards  bearing  the  names  of  the  six 
members  of  the  company  are  enclosed  in  an  envelope  on  which  the 
six  names  are  also  written.  The  first  member  collects  the  first  offer- 
ing, the  second  member  the  second,  etc.,  until  the  sixth  collects  the 
sixth  oft'ering.  For  the  year  1905-1906  the  membership  of  this  church 
was  141  ;  the  off'erings  to  benevolences  amounted  to  $328.87, — 140 
members  contributing  to  all  six  of  the  benevolent  societies.  For  the 
year  1906-1907,  with  a  membership  of  160,  the  offerings  amounted  to 
$547.88  and  at  least  98%  of  the  members  of  the  church  were  enlisted 
in  the  work.  The  pastor  did  not  claim  that  these  offerings  were  large. 
His  people  were  not  wealthy.  He  must,  however,  be  given  credit  for 
enlisting  the  help  of  almost  every  member.  The  Company  Plan  of 
organization  has  been  endorsed  by  Secretaries  of  the  State  and  For- 
eign Boards.  Where  this  method  is  followed  a  member  is  compelled 
to  work  or  fall  entirely  out  of  the  organization.  This  method  is  being 
widely  used  throughout  Ohio  and  is  being  introduced  into  other  states. 
During  Mr.  Wilson's  pastorate  this  church  grew  from  a  mission  station 
of  15  members  to  a  thoroughly  organized  church  of  350  people. 

12 


Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Milford,  Clermont  County 

During  the  past  year  the  Methodist  J^)iscopal  Church  of  Milford, 
Ohio,  raised  a  hudget  of  $v3,852,  all  of  which  was  given  through  regu- 
lar subscriptions  and  pledges.  The  Woman's  Foreign  Missionary 
Society  made  contributions  amounting  to  $289;  the  Woman's  Home 
Missionary  Society  contributed  $247.  Collections  and  "pay  socials" 
are  forbidden.  This  financial  system  reacts  on  the  s])iritual  life  of 
the  church.  It  has  experienced  a  steady  growth,  having  now  429  mem- 
bers, 64  of  whom  were  added  during  the  past  year.  The  societies  for 
young  people  in  this  church  maintain  themselves  without  ''pay  socials." 
The  Junior  and  Senior  Leagues  each  support  a  student  on  the  foreign 
field.  The  young  people  of  the  church  give  an  outing  to  100  of  the 
less  fortunate  people  of  Cincinnati,  have  a  Personal  Workers'  League, 
furnish  the  evening  choir  for  the  regular  church  service  and  show  a 
readiness  to  take  part  in  the  devotional  meetings. 

Emanuel  Reformed  Church,  Wayne  County 

There  are  other  churches  three  miles  in  every  direction  from 
Emanuel  Reformed  Church.  To  the  south  is  an  Evangelical  Church  ; 
north,  Presbyterian  and  Methodist ;  west,  Church  of  God  and  L'nitcd 
Brethren;  east.  United  Brethren  and  Evangelical  churches.  There 
are  also  two  Dunkard  churches  in  the  community.  In  Chester  Town- 
ship, with  a  population  of  1420,  there  are  twelve  churches.  Six  of 
these  have  grown  in  membership  during  the  past  five  years.  Of  these 
six  churches  Emanuel  Church,  situated  at  crossroads  equi-distant  from 


EMANUEL    REFORMED    CHURCH 
13 


three  towns,  shows  next  to  the  largest  per  cent,  of  increase  for  the  past 
five  years.  It  now  has  a  membership  of  135.  There  are  twenty-two 
under  twenty-one  years  of  age. 

This  church  possesses  a  building  valued  at  $15,000,  which  provides 
special  rooms  for  the  Sunday  school.  There  are  organized  classes  for 
men  and  women.  The  church  manages  its  finances  in  this  fashion. 
At  the  beginning  of  the  year  the  budget  is  made  out.  Later  a  book  con- 
taining the  contributions  is  printed,  and  each  member  receives  a  copy. 
In  this  book  every  contribution  is  recorded  and  every  cent  is  accounted 
for.  And  there  is  always  money  in  the  treasury  to  meet  bills  when  they 
are  due. 

Rawson  United  Brethren  Church,  Hancock  County 

\'arious  methods  are  devised  for  raising  the  amount  of  money  neces- 
sary for  church  expenses.  Rev.  W.  D.  Bishop  of  the  United  Brethren 
Church  at  Rawson,  found  the  results  of  the  following  plan  both  prompt 
and  adequate:  The  large  membership  was  divided  into  four  districts 
and  two  solicitors  were  appointed  for  each  district.  A  day  was  named 
for  the  canvass,  but  two  weeks  prior  to  the  making  of  the  canvass  the 
amount  of  the  budget  was  announced.  The  sum  of  $1,200  was  re- 
quired to  pay  all  obligations  and  every  member  was  informed  that  he 
would  be  called  upon  to  make  a  pledge  toward  this  amount.  A  church 
rally  day  at  which  the  canvassers  would  report,  was  announced.  A 
literary  program  was  prepared  and  rendered  before  the  250  members 
and  friends  present.  The  solicitors  reported  pledges  amounting  to 
$1,239,  which  amount  would  doubtless  have  been  even  larger,  but  a 
number  of  the  members  could  not  be  seen  on  that  day.  The  church 
rally  was  closed  with  a  banquet.  The  work  of  that  day  has  contributed 
greatly  to  the  church  attendance  and  to  the  offerings,  too.  On  the 
Sunday  following  the  meeting  the  regular  evening  collection  amounted 
to  $148. 

Cedarville  United  Presbyterian  Church,  Greene  County 

The  Cedarville  United  Presbyterian  Church  is  distinguished  for  its 
excellent  financial  system.  The  church  publishes  a  directory  and 
financial  statement  each  year  in  which  are  given  the  names  of  the  mem- 
bers and  the  amount  contributed  by  each  toward  salary  and  incidentals, 
alongside  of  which  is  the  amount  contributed  to  missions  and  benevo- 
lences. Contributions  as  small  as  five  cents  from  children  as  young  as 
eight  years  are  fully  itemized.  This  system  wdien  installed  largely 
increased  the  church's  income.    The  receipts  for  the  year  ending  March 

14 


31,  1913,  amounted  to  more  than  $6,500,  $1,200  of  which  was  con- 
tributed to  foreign  missions,  and  $1,659  to  home  missions,  making  an 
average  of  $10.25  per  member  to  mission  boards.  The  total  amount 
contributed  to  pastor's  salary  and  regular  congregational  expenses 
amounted  to  $2,050,  whereas  the  total  amount  contributed  to  missions 
amounted  to  $2,859.  The  members  of  the  Junior  Missionary  Society, 
in  which  children  from  six  to  fourteen  years  are  enrolled,  are  raising 
$40  to  build  a  mud  dried  brick  church  in  India. 

During  the  past  year  repairs,  including  the  frescoing  of  the  church, 
new  art  windows,  cement  sidewalks  and  gutters,  were  made.  The  cost 
of  these  repairs  amounted  to  more  than  $1,400,  yet  no  special  sub- 
scription was  taken  for  these  extras.  Announcement  concerning  them 
was  made  from  the  pulpit  and  the  members  of  the  church  did  the  rest. 

The  pastor,  Rev.  James  S.  M.  McMichael,  has  shown  interest  in  the 
young  people  of  the  village  by  coaching  the  college  and  high  school 
athletic  teams.  He  has  also  organized  a  basket-ball  team  among  the 
3^oung  people  of  the  church.  Cedarville  has  a  population  of  1,000. 
There  are  three  churches  in  the  village. 


III.     BOYS'  WORK 


The  interpreting  of  the  message  of  God  to  the  boy  and  the  girl  has 
heen  the  prophet's  task  in  our  time.  To  none  have  we  listened  more 
attentively  than  to  those  who  have  understood  the  heart  of  the  grow- 
ing boy.  We  appreciate  that  his  are  the  days  of  dreams,  of  visions 
and  of  high  resolves.  The  adolescent  boy  and  girl  are  coming  to  a 
great  place  in  our  religious  life. 

The  story,  therefore,  of  country  churches  in  Ohio  which  have 
attained  a  distinction  in  serving  the  boys  of  the  community  and  purg- 
ing the  turbulent  stream  of  their  emotions  with  the  gospel  will  be  read 
with  lively  interest. 

Bluffton  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Allen  County 

After  a  fine  new  parsonage  had  been  erected  the  trustees  offered  the 
old  one  for  rent,  but  feeling  that  this  building  could  be  of  greater 
value  to  the  church  and  community  if  converted  into  a  Parish  House, 

15 


TOPSY-TUR\'Y  AT  CAMP  ADULLAM,  KNIGHTS  OF  KING  ARTHUR, 
BLUFFTON  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH 


some  of  the  partitions  were  removed,  a  kitchen,  pantry  and  dining 
room  equipped,  and  a  home  was  made  for  various  organizations.  The 
two  rooms  upstairs  were  equipped  for  boys'  clubs.  Ahiiost  every  day 
and  evening,  except  Sunday,  some  sort  of  a  meeting  was  held  in  the 
Parish  House.  It  was  used  for  prayer  meeting,  for  meetings  of  the 
Ladies'  Aid  Society,  also  for  those  of  the  Brotherhood,  for  Bible 
study  and  teachers'  training  classes,  for  meetings  of  the  various  boys'^ 
girls'  and  young  people's  clubs,  for  socials  held  with  the  various  or- 
ganizations, for  W.  C.  T.  U.  meetings,  for  meetings  of  men  held  dur- 
ing the  Local  Option  Campaign,  for  the  Men  and  Religion  Forward 
Movement,  for  union  prayer  meetings,  for  dinners  and  banquets — - 
in  short  for  any  good  purpose  which  would  help  to  build  up  both 
church  and  community. 

Besides  the  ATethodist  Brotherhood  for  men,  the  pastor  organized  a 
Brotherhood  of  David  and  Knights  of  King  Arthur  for  boys.  Both  of 
these  organizations  have  accomplished  almost  miracles  in  character 
building.  The  boys'  clubs  borrowed  books  from  the  Traveling  State 
Library,  built  missionary  exhibits  and  gave  programs,  in  addition  to 
holding  religious  and  social  gatherings. 

A  boys'  choir  was  formed.     Both  boys  and  young  men  attend  church 

16 


services  in  large  numljers  and  take  part  in  various  church  activities. 
Ahiiost  every  member  of  the  Sunday  school  becomes  a  member  of  the 
church  and  it  is  not  an  uncommon  sight  to  see  as  many  as  forty  boy*-' 
and  young  men  at  one  communion  table  to  receive  the  sacrament.  In 
three  years  there  were  109  additions,  the  male  exceeding  the  female  by 
8%.  The  present  membership  is  340.  There  are  six  churches  in  Bluff - 
ton,  a  town  of  2,000  inhabitants. 

The  Sunday  school  with  an  average  attendance  of  250  has  ranked 
three  successive  years  as  a  "Front  Line"  school,  furnishing  a  number 
of  trained  teachers,  using  graded  lessons  and  maintaining  three  large 
organized  adult  classes.  The  pastor  considered  the  Parish  Mouse  the 
cause  of  the  success  attained  by  the  Sunday  school. 

Other  organizations  of  this  church  are  Home  (iuards,  W'esleyan 
Guild,  Home  Missionary  Society,  Epworth  and  Junior  Leagues.  A 
new  building  costing  not  less  than  SI 5.000  is  to  be  erected.  Rev.  John 
Harding  Butler  was  pastor  of  this  church  for  three  years  and  during 
that  time  was  secretary  of  the  Allen  County  Sunday  School  Associa- 
tion. Since  September,  1913,  the  Bluffton  M.  E.  Church  has  had  Rev. 
W.  R.  Burton  for  its  pastor. 


AROUND  THE  CAMP  FIRE 

17 


MISS  MINA  FRY,  TEACHER   OF   CLASS   SIX,   MINERAL 
METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  SUNDAY   SCHOOL 


Mineral  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Athens  County 

Mineral  is  a  mining  village  of  about  200  inhabitants.  In  the  summer 
of  1912  a  young  woman  from  near  Cincinnati  who  had  recently  ac- 
cepted a  position  in  Athens,  spent  one  Sunday  in  Mineral.  She  noticed 
that  there  was  a  crowd  of  young  men  loafing  about  the  railroad  sta- 
tion. The  fact  that  none  of  these  young  men  were  present  at  Sunday 
school  attracted  her  attention.  She  decided  to  spend  every  Sunday  in 
Mineral.  On  June  30th,  1912,  she  started  a  Sunday  School  class  with 
five  boys  enrolled.  On  November  28th  of  the  same  year  this  group, 
known  as  Class  Six  was  organized.  The  enrollment  was  then  35 ;  by 
September  28th,  1913,  it  had  increased  to  70. 

Last  winter  under  the  auspices  of  Class  Six,  a  lecture  course  was 
given.  The  professors  of  Ohio  University  gave  their  services  free. 
The  boys  bore  all  traveling  expenses  and  arranged  for  the  entertain- 
ment of  the  speakers  over  night.    They  attended  to  every  detail.    They 

18 


met  their  distinguished  guests  when  they  arrived  and  made  sure  that 
they  were  properly  introduced.  Plans  are  bein<^  made  for  another 
lecture  course  this  year. 

Mothers'  Day  was  given  special  recognition  by  Class  Six.  A  pro- 
gram appropriate  to  the  occasion  was  rendered.  In  addition  to  giving 
a  carnation  to  every  mother  present  at  the  services,  a  bunch  was  sent 
to  every  mother  in  the  village  who  was  not  able  to  attend  Sunday 
school. 

This  class  has  four  standing  committees :  Membership,  Sympathy, 
Devotional  and  Entertainment.  A  business  meeting  is  held  every 
month  at  which  a  program  is  rendered.  The  motto  of  the  class  is,  *'Be 
ye  doers  of  the  Word  and  not  hearers  only" :  its  aim  is,  "Help  some- 
body to-day."  The  splendid  record  attained  by  Class  Six  is  all  due 
to  the  faithfulness  and  tact  of  Miss  Mina  Fry,  the  young  woman  who 
organized  it  and  is  now  the  teacher. 

Yellow  Springs  Presbyterian  Church,  Greene  County 

This  church  owns  a  $25,000  white  stone  building  containing  ten 
rooms,  one  of  wdiich  is  a  reading  room.  The  pastor  is  attempting  to 
make  this  church  a  community  center.  During  the  past  five  years 
there  has  been  an  increase  of  125%  in  church  membership.     At  the 


BOY   SCOUTS,   STOCKPORT   DISCIPLES   CHURCPI 

19 


last  of  a  series  of  socials  held  during  1911  by  an  organized  class  of 
boys  ranging  from  fourteen  to  seventeen  years  of  age,  the  pastor 
opened  discussion  concerning  church  membership.  Later  the  proposi- 
tion of  joining  the  church  was  presented  to  the  boys  individually  and 
every  member  of  the  class  allied  himself  with  the  church.  This  class 
has  gymnasium  practice  twice  a  week  and  an  organized  baseball  team 
coached  by  the  teacher.  The  Sunday  school  superintendent,  a  college 
trained,  practical  business  man,  always  has  his  home  open  to  the  young 
people  for  good  social  times.  ^Mr.  P.  \\'.  Drake  is  the  superintendent  ; 
Rev.  \\\  R.  Graham  is  pastor. 

Stockport  Church,  Disciples  of  Christ,  Morgan  County 

In  connection  with  this  church  there  is  maintained  by  the  pastor  a 
Boy  Scouts  Troop,  the  most  successful  boys'  organization  in  Morgan 
County.  This  troop  has  a  baseball  team.  Last  summer  (1913)  these 
Boy  Scouts  encamped  for  ten  days  at  the  Chautauqua  at  McConnels- 
ville.  The  pastor  added  seven  members  to  his  church  in  less  than  a 
year  without  special' evangelistic  effort.  Through  his  intimate  asso- 
ciation with  his  Boy  Scouts  and  his  young  people,  he  is  able  to  do  con- 
structive work  all  the  vear  around. 


MIDDLEKIELD    ATHLETIC    CLUB    BASEBALL   TEAM    AND    ITS    MANAGER, 
REV.    C.    M.    McCONNELL 

20 


MIDDLEFIELD  BOY  SCOUTS  IN  CAMP 


Middlefield  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Geauga  County 


When  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Middlefield  was  planned 
the  boys  were  not  forgotten.  P)esides  an  auditorium,  Sunday  school 
room,  pastor's  study  and  kitchen,  there  are  a  gymnasium  and  boys' 
club  room.  The  church  is  kept  open  several  nights  in  the  week  and  a 
competent  person  is  in  charge  when  the  young  people  meet  in  the  gyni- 
nasium  for  a  social  or  for  gymnasium  work.  The  young  peo})le  of  the 
village  instead  of  meeting  on  the  street  corners  and  in  disreputaljle 
places  come  to  the  church.  It  has  indeed  become  the  social  center 
of  the  community. 

For  three  years  the  pastor  was  manager  of  the  baseball  team  of  the 
town.  He  arranged  the  schedule  and  took  all  the  responsibihty  of  the 
games.  Several  star  players  were  developed  and  the  team  was  held 
in  good  repute  throughout  the  county.  The  conduct  of  the  ])layers  was 
the  cause  of  nuich  favorable  comment  and  the  undesirable  features  of 
the  game  were  reduced  to  the  minimum.  During  the  fall  and  winter 
months  when  it  was  impossible  to  have  outdoor  sports,  the  members 
of  the  basebal  team  met  from  time  to  time  in  the  gymnasium  and  took 
systematic  training. 

Boys  from  twelve  to  fifteen  years  of  age  were  under  the  leadership 

21 


of  the  pastor  in  a  troop  of  Boy  Scouts.  They  had  their  headquarters 
in  the  boys'  chib  room  in  the  church  and  athletic  training  was  given 
them  in  the  church  gymnasium.  During  the  winter  months  the  boys 
met  one  night  each  week  when  they  had  games  and  athletic  training 
under  the  direction  of  the  pastor.  In  the  summer  they  took  long 
hikes  through  the  country  and  camped  for  a  week. 

Through  this  type  of  work  and  other  of  a  like  nature  the  church 
came  to  have  a  standing  in  the  community  that  was  strategic.  It  is 
the  center  of  the  life  of  the  community  and  it  became  an  easy  matter 
to  finance  the  various  enterprises  of  the  church.  The  people  felt  that 
they  were  getting  value  in  return  for  their  investment  and  the  church 
found  its  life  by  losing  it  in  the  vital,  throbbing  interests  of  the  com- 
munity. A  change  of  pastors  has  not  changed  the  policy  and  purpose 
of  the  church.  Although  Rev.  C.  M.  McConnell  who  initiated  much 
of  this  community  service  has  gone  to  another  field,  the  work  goes  on. 


IV.  RESIDENT  PASTORS 

Few  realize  the  extent  to  which  the  minister  has  joined  the  exodus 
from  the  country.  In  the  Eastern  States,  including  Pennsylvania, 
New  York  and  the  Virginias  under  that  term,  there  are  many  ministers 
living  in  the  country  among  farmers.  But  during  the  past  generation 
the  occupations  once  known  in  the  country  have  moved  into  town  and 
the  minister  has  gone  with  the  merchant,  the  shoemaker,  the  lawyer, 
the  doctor,  the  worker  in  iron  and  in  wood.  The  States  from  Ohio 
westward,  especially  those  settled  in  large  measure  since  the  Civil 
War,  show  no  signs  of  the  early  settlement  of  pastors  in  the  country, 
which  we  find  in  the  East. 

Therefore  the  resident  minister  is  in  these  states  a  distinguished 
figure  in  the  country.  Probably  in  this  story  of  successful  churches 
in  Ohio  a  larger  number  should  be  listed  under  this  heading.  In  a 
goodly  number  of  churches  this  one  mark  of  success  seems  to  be  a  clue 
to  the  character  of  the  church.  All  honor  to  the  pastors  and  to  their 
people  who  have  seen  that  the  country  church  needs  a  minister  living 
with  the  farmers  in  the  open  fields  and  teaching  them  the  way  of  life 
in  the  country !     May  the  time  soon  come  when  the  minister  who  lives 

22 


in  town  where  he  does  not  preach,  and  preaches  in  the  country  where 
he  does  not  Hve,  will  see  a  new  light  and  consecrate  himself  and  his 
family  to  a  resident  pastorate  in  the  open  country. 


Bethel  Presbyterian  Church,  Columbiana  County 

In  a  section  of  the  state  that  is  hilly  and  thinly  populated  Ijcthel 
Presbyterian  Church  has  more  than  held  its  own.  It  has  prospered. 
This  church,  standing  in  the  open  country,  is  five  miles  from  the  rail- 
road and  six  miles  from  an  electric  line.  Roads  are  not  improved. 
Most  of  the  members  live  at  a  distance  of  3  or  4  miles ;  some  as  far  as 
6  miles.  There  has  been  a  continual  exodus  from  this  community  to 
neighboring  cities.  Yet  in  spite  of  all  that  is  unfavorable  to  church 
growth,  Bethel  now  has  a  church  roll  of  243  members. 

This  church  has  been  successful  in  holding  its  pastors,  there  being 
only  four  ministers  in  sixty  years.  The  present  pastorate  is  the  fifth 
since  1852.  The  pastors  of  this  church  have  made  great  sacrifices,  but 
not  without  results.  The  tithing  of  their  income  by  several  families, 
erection  of  a  family  altar  and  faithfulness  in  church  attendance  are 
fruits  of  the  consecrated  lives  of  Bethel's  pastors.  For  fifteen  years 
there  has  been  a  resident  pastor.  A  parsonage,  with  25  acres  of  land, 
is  furnished. 

There  being  no  easy  access  to  the  city,  this  church  has  not  let  slip 


BETilEL  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 
23 


RILEY   CREEK   BAPTIST    CHURL  ii 


the  opportunity  of  making  itself  the  social  as  well  as  the  religious  cen- 
tre of  the  community.  The  parish,  which  covers  almost  a  township, 
has  a  large  number  of  young  people.  At  a  recent  Sunday  evening 
preaching  service  there  were  more  than  100  young  men  and  women 
present.     The  good- music  furnished  helps  to  attract  the  young  people. 

There  is  a  society  of  Christian  Endeavorers,  also  a  Ladies'  Mission- 
ary Society.  By  means  of  a  contest  the  attendance  at  Sunday  School 
was  doubled.  A  Bible  class  for  men  has  been  organized  with  five 
officers  and  three  committees  :  Lookout,  Social  and  Pastor's  Aid.  Men 
who  formerly  were  never  present  are  now  interested  in  the  Sunday 
School.  On  Sunday  afternoon  a  member  of  the  men's  class  success- 
fully conducts  a  branch  Sunday  School  at  a  school  house  four  miles 
from  the  church. 

Cottage  prayer  meetings,  or  services  in  neighboring  school  houses, 
are  held  on  Wednesday  evening.  Many  who  have  not  been  interested 
in  matters  religious  are  attracted  to  these  services  and  later  join  the 
church.  Just  now  plans  are  being  made  by  a  committee  appointed  by 
the  pastor.  Rev.  M.  H.  \\'oolf,  and  the  Session,  for  a  Country  Life 
Institute  to  be  held  during  the  winter. 

24 


Riley  Creek  Baptist  Church,  Hancock  County 

For  forty-five  years  Riley  Creek  Baptist  Church  never  had  more 
than  half  the  time  of  its  minister  and  never  had  him  living  in  the 
parish.  In  1910  a  modern  church  building,  valued  at  $7,000,  was 
erected.  Later  Rev.  C.  F.  Schneider  was  engaged  to  give  his  whole 
time  to  the  church  and  to  live  among  his  parishioners.  In  addition  to 
receiving  a  salary  of  $600  the  pastor  has  the  use  of  a  60  acre  farm. 

In  two  years  the  church  membership  advanced  from  103  to  145. 
The  Sunday  School  now  enrolls  125  and  has  an  average  attendance 
of  85.  The  morning  services  draw  140  people  on  an  average.  In  the 
evening  the  average  attendance  is  200.  All  church  expenses  are 
promptly  paid. 

Sugar  Creek  United  Presbyterian  Church,  Montgomery  County 

Since  its  organization  in  1804  Sugar  Creek  United  Presbyterian 
Church  has  had  only  13  pastors.  A  well  kept  parsonage  with  exten- 
sive grounds  is  provided  and  resident  pastors  are  the  rule.  The  mem- 
bers of  this  church  have  demanded  efficient  men  in  the  pulpit  and  have 
paid  salaries  large  enough  to  attract  men  of  the  highest  caliber.  Dr. 
J.  B.  Michael  after  he  had  served  this  church  16  years,  accepted  the 
presidency  of  Monmouth  College.  After  25  years  in  that  position  of 
honor  he  resumed  the  pastorate  at  Sugar  Creek,  serving  four  and  a 
half  years.  Rev.  John  A.  Henderson,  who  has  served  prominent 
churches  of  his  denomination,  is  now  pastor  of  this  church. 

Sugar  Creek  Presbyterian  Church  is  situated  in  the  open  country 
seven  miles  from  the  city  of  Dayton.  Its  membership  of  155  is  com- 
prised chiefly  of  country  folk.  A  new  and  completely  equipped  build- 
ing of  gray  Bedford  limestone,  costing  $20,000,  was  dedicated  June 
22,  1913.  This  is  the  fourth  edifice  erected  by  this  congregation  since 
its  organization  109  years  ago.  A  kitchen  and  dining  room  in  the  new 
building  afi:'ord  ample  facilities  for  social  gatherings.  The  program 
for  this  winter  includes  an  open  house  meeting  for  ever\'  Friday 
evening. 

The  Duplex  Envelope  system  is  used.  Many  of  the  members  are 
tithers,  others  pay  even  more  than  a  tenth. 

Wilkesville  Presbyterian  Church,  Vinton   County 

Over  one-half  of  the  90  members  of  this  church  are  farmers.  The 
Presbyterians  of  Wilkesville  support  a  resident  minister  and  believe  in 
keeping  one  minister  long  enough  to  give  him  a  chance  to  do  his  best 

25 


REV.  CHARLES  B.  TAYLOR,  Ph.  D. 

work.  They  expect  their  minister  to  Hve  in  their  midst  and  take  part 
in  the  hfe  of  the  community.  One  pastor  served  this  church  12  years; 
his  son,  Dr.  Chas.  B.  Taylor,  10  years ;  the  grandson,  now  in  a  country 
church  in  Missouri,  was  also  pastor  of  this  church  for  a  while.  The 
influence  of  this  church  on  the  community  life  has  always  been  notice- 
able and  permanently  effective.  Removals  to  the  city  and  the  deple- 
tion of  the  soil  are  now  causing  a  decline  in  church  membership,  yet 
in  its  94  years  of  service  it  has  furnished  10  ministers  of  the  Gospel 
and  57  teachers,  25  of  whom  are  numbered  in  the  present  congrega- 
tion.   Wilkesville  is  a  hamlet  of  203  people. 


St.  Jacob's  Reformed  Church,  Columbiana  County 

St.  Jacob's  Reformed  Church  in  Center  Township,  Columbiana 
County,  is  a  country  church  with  over  200  members,  nearly  20%  of 
whom  are  under  21  years  of  age.  There  are  five  other  churches  within 
three  miles,  all  of  them  losing  ground.  This  neighborhood  has  suffered 
from  rural  exodus.     Yet  this  church  has  grown  steadily.     It  has  had 

26 


a  resident  pastor  for  fifteen  years  giving  full  time  to  this  one  congre- 
gation. It  pays  him  $700  and  furnishes  him  with  a  parsonage  and 
twenty-five  acres  of  land.  Here  is  a  minister  serving  a  country  church 
which  belongs  to  the  country,  who  knows  his  people  personally,  min- 
isters to  all  of  his  extended  parish  and  has  built  up  a  strong  efficient 


V.     SUNDAY  SCHOOLS 

The  country  church  is  generally  not  as  strong  in  its  teaching  organi- 
zation as  it  should  be.  It  compares  but  ill  with  the  town  church.  The 
great  Sunday  Schools  maintained  in  some  of  the  cities  are  not  matched 
in  the  open  country.  One  longs  to  have  the  old  days  return  of  thor- 
ough Bible  instruction  and  one  longs  in  vain  for  the  machinery  and 
the  method  by  which  this  may  be  accomplished.  The  people  living 
in  the  country  need  instruction  in  Bible  truth,  in  the  Christian  tradi- 
tion and  in  the  missionary  work  of  the  church. 

Therefore  the  churches  which  have  built  their  work  upon  efficient 
Sunday  Schools  have  a  story  to  tell. 

Ebenezer  Mennonite  Church,  Allen  County 

Entire  families  are  enrolled  in  this  Sunday  School.  To  this  factor 
the  pastor  acknowledges  is  largely  due  the  success  of  the  church,  as 
well  as  the  Sunday  School.  There  are  375  on  the  church  roll,  65  of 
whom  are  under  twenty  years  of  age.  Within  the  past  three  years 
114  have  joined  the  church.  The  Sunday  School  has  organized  classes, 
which  hold  social  and  literary  gatherings  at  the  private  homes  once 
a  month.  There  is  a  Teachers'  Training  Class  and  a  well  attended 
Teachers'  Meeting  is  held  every  week. 

Ebenezer  Mennonite  Church  is  situated  in  the  open  country  in  a 
very  prosperous  Swiss  community  in  Allen  County.  Rev.  W.  S. 
Gottshall,  Bluffton,  Ohio,  pastor  of  this  church,  is  President  of  the 
Home  Mission  Board  of  the  General  Conference  of  ]\Iennonites. 

Christian  Church  at  Shreve,  Wayne  County 

The  church  building,  valued  at  $10,000  has  ten  rooms,  nine  of  which 
are  designed  for  the  use  of  the  Sunday  School.  There  are  maps,  small 
chairs,  tables,  charts  and  blackboard  provided.     All  the  adult  classes 

27 


are  organized.  The  young  men's  Bible  class  has  a  base-ball  team  that 
has  played  several  out  of  town  games.  The  young  people  of  this 
church  contribute  generously  to  missionary  enterprises.  They  are  now 
educating  a  boy  in  China.  Of  a  church  membership  of  517,  IS^c  are 
under  21  years  of  age. 

Old  Fort  United  Brethren  Church,  Seneca  County 

The  Old  Fort  United  Brethren  Sunday  School,  with  an  enrollment 
of  231,  has  37  members  who  have  graduated  from  the  standard  course 
for  teacher  training.  In  November,  1913,  there  were  11  members  in 
the  third  year  class  of  thei  advanced  teacher  training  course  who  had 
only   one   more  book   to   study  before   completing  the   course.      This 


GRADUATLS  IX  THE  STANDARD  COURSE  FOR  TEACHER  TRAIXIXC, 
OLD  FORT  UNITED  BRETHREX  CHURCH 


Sunday  School  is  a  "front  line"  school.  On  last  "decision  day"  23  of 
its  members  joined  the  church.  To  the  adult  Bible  class  is  due  credit 
for  bringing  a  large  number  into  the  Sunday  School  and  church.  The 
fact  that  the  efficient  training  of  the  teachers  of  the  Bible  classes  is 
emphasized  is  no  doubt  another  factor  contributing  to  the  growth  of 
this  church.  Mr.  C.  C.  Drown,  a  leading  business  man  of  Old  Fort, 
has  charge  of  the  teacher  training  class.  To  his  good  sense  and  Chris- 
tian living  the  United  Brethren  Church  owes  much. 

28 


Peebles  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Adams  County 

Many  churches  are  wondering  how  they  may  enlist  their  young 
people.  The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Peebles,  Ohio,  has  80 
members  under  21  years  of  age.  These  comprise  almost  one-third  of 
the  numerical  strength  of  the  church. 

Inquiry  leads  back  to  the  Sunday  school.  Within  the  past  two 
years,  62  of  these  young  people  have  passed  from  the  Sunday  school 
into  the  church.  A  decision  day  held  in  the  Sunday  school  during  the 
revival  services  was  helpful,  but  of  much  greater  value  was  the  careful 
personal  work  of  the  Sunday  School  teachers.  They  talked  with  the 
children  and  visited  the  parents,  who,  in  turn,  were  persuaded  to 
co-operate  by  talking  with  the  children  concerning  the  importance  of 
making  a  decision.  The  transition  was  made  easy  and  natural ;  about 
three- fourths  of  the  children  joined  before  13  years  of  age.  l^ecause 
•of  careful  w^ork  in  following  up  what  was  begun,  the  results  have 
been  definite  and  lasting.  Something  is  always  being  done  to  meet  the 
needs  of  the  young  people ;  every  winter  several  socials  are  given  ; 
the  teachers  and  officers  of  the  Sunday  School  make  frequent  visits 
at  the  homes  of  the  pupils.  Part  of  the  credit  for  the  success  of  this 
Sunday  School  is  due  to  an  efficient  secretary  whose  accurate  records 
and  keen  oversight  keep  absent  pupils  from  being  neglected  and  for- 
gotten. This  Sunday  School  has  now  become  so  big  that  the  children 
can  find  nothing  outside  of  it  quite  so  good. 

The  pastor  frankly  admits  his  indebtedness  to  this  "working  Sunday 
School."  In  two  neighboring  charges  in  smaller  villages  he  has  not 
been  able  to  add  a  young  person  to  the  church  roll  in  two  years.  His 
work  counts,  he  has  discovered,  only  where  he  has  an  organized  body 
of  devoted  Christians  consecrated  to  bringing  the  children  into  the 
church  and  helping  them  to  grow  up  into  an  understanding  of  religious 
responsibility. 


Macksburg  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Washington  County 

The  village  of  Macksburg  with  its  450  inhabitants  has  one  church, 
the  Methodist  Episcopal.  The  building  which  was  erected  in  1907  is 
most  attractive  in  appearance  and  is  a  source  of  pride  to  the  people 
of  the  village. 

There  is  an  Epworth  League  meeting  once  a  week ;  prayer  meeting 
is  conducted  twice  a  week.  The  Sunday  School  has  196  enrolled,  in 
addition  to  a  Home  Department  of  45  and  a  Cradle  Roll  of  26.    Graded 

29 


lessons  are  used  in  the  primary  and  junior  departments.  A  member 
of  the  Sunday  School  who  is  an  accomplished  artist  illustrates  the 
lessons  of  all  the  departments.  Mrs.  Alice  Blakeslee,  a  woman  of  tact, 
education  and  means  is  the  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  School.  She 
is  ablv  assisted  bv  the  officers  and  seventeen  teachers  of  this  school. 


MACKSBURG  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   SUNDAY   SCHOOL 


VI.  COMMUNITY  CHURCHES 

The  dream  of  the  pastor  and  of  the  leader  in  rural  religious  life  is 
that  each  community  shall  have  one  church  and  that  each  church  shall 
serve  in  the  broadest  way  the  religious  needs  of  its  community.  It 
is  the  old  conception  of  the  parish.  It  embodies  in  local  form  the  ideals 
of  service,  of  church  co-operation  and  comity,  w^iich  are  in  the  hearts 
of  all.  We  therefore  are  deeply  interested  in  those  examples  of  close 
relation  between  the  community  and  the  church.  Many  more  such 
instances  might  perhaps  have  been  found,  but  the  following  list  of 
churches  expresses  in  the  mind  of  the  writers  their  sense  of  an  ideal 
of  social  service :  the  country  church  which  ministers  to  the  country 
community. 

Hiram  Disciple  Church,  Portage  County 

Hiram  is  a  small  village  situated  in  a  dairying  section  of  the  state, 
quite  isolated,  the  nearest  railroad  being  two  and  one-half  miles  distant. 
Yet  the  community  has  a  most  progressive  and  intellectual  atmosphere, 
for  the  citizens  are  for  the  most  part  professors  of  Hiram  College  or 
in  some  other  way  identified  with  that  institution.     There  is  the  ''His- 

30 


■MmM 

»     -^..s.'-kSito'iii^ 

E^^iLiiafiSSl^ 

■P'-'H 

E:^i^m 

■■OU^^^TOM 

V%   'P^ 

-^fl^»4 

wK^^^A        ^ 

'^mMI     -  «  11  Mi 

iV^^                      JH 

g^:^-g^ji| 

E^IJPP^ 

ml^^^^^^W^ 

CENTENNIAL  CLASS,  HIRAM    DKSCIPLE  CHURCH 


tory  Club,"  also,  the  "Research  Club" ;  both  follow  a  definite  plan  of 
study  throughout  the  year,  A  ''Young  Married  Folks  Club"  seeks  to 
interest  all  young  married  people  in  the  village  and  in  the  country.  Its 
functions  are  wholly  social. 

There  is  only  one  other  community  in  the  township — Hiram  Rapids, 
a  small  village  2^  miles  distant.  The  moral  tone  of  this  place  is  far 
below  that  of  Hiram.  It  has  a  church  that  revives  periodically  for  a 
short  time  after  several  years  of  abandonment,  and  has  been  of  several 
denominations.  To  all  intents  the  township  is  a  whole,  centering  in 
Hiram,  and  the  Disciples  Church  of  Hiram  is  a  community  church  in 
every  sense  of  the  word. 

This  church  owns  a  large  brick  structure,  valued  at  $20,000,  in  excel- 
lent condition.  There  are  345  members  and  the  number  constantly 
increases  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  the  total  population  of  the  township 
is  decreasing.  Rev.  John  E.  Pounds,  the  pastor,  lives  in  his  parish. 
He  is  thoroughly  awake  and  is  seeking  to  enlist  the  church  for  com- 
munity service. 

The  church  and  college  co-operate  closely.  During  the  college  year, 
music  is  furnished  for  the  church  services  by  students  trained  by  the 
teacher  of  music  in  the  conservatory.  Most  of  the  teachers  in  the 
Sunday  School  are  college  students.  During  the  morning  service  one 
of  the  young  women  students  has  charge  of  a  "nursery"  in  the  base- 
ment of  the  church,  in  order  that  mothers  with  younger  children  need 
not  be  kept  at  home  by  reason  of  this  fact.  The  Christian  Endeavor 
is  supported  jointlv  by  college  students  and  the  young  people  of  the 

31 


village.  The  members  of  the  college  faculty  are  instrumental  in 
making  the  prayer  meeting  a  success. 

This  church  has  a  Brotherhood  which  meets  monthly  for  the  discus- 
sion of  some  live  question.  Social  features  are  not  neglected.  The 
Centennial  Bible  Class  "to  which  every  member  belongs,  whether  he 
will  or  no,  provided  he  is  not  a  member  of  any  other  class"  is  an  out- 
standing feature  of  this  church.  Bible  study  is  conducted  for  this 
class  by  the  pastor  during  the  regular  Sunday  School  hour.  The 
average  attendance  is  about  65.  There  are  classes  conducted  by  the 
Dean  of  ^len  and  the  wife  of  the  college  president  for  the  students 
of  Hiram  college. 

A  canvass  of  the  community  has  l)een  made  and  effort  is  being  put 
forth  to  reach  those  who  have  hitherto  not  belonged  to  church. 


MALTA   METHODIST   EPISCOPAL  CHURCH 

32 


Malta  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Morgan  County 

This  is  a  strong  village  church.  Malta  has  a  pO])ulation  of  971. 
There  is  one  other  church  in  the  village.  The  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  enrolls  as  members  al)out  325  of  the  people  of  the  village,  a 
little  over  one-third  of  the  population,  an  exceptional  proportion.  This 
year  there  were  32  accessions.  This  church  now  has  109  members 
more  than  it  had  five  years  ago.  The  Sunday  School  has  a  fine  orches- 
tra. A  spirit  of  genuine  friendliness  and  sociability  is  manifested  in 
the  Epworth  League. 

Locust  Grove  M.  E.  Church,  Vinton  County 


anv 


This  church  is  situated  in  the  open  country  seven  miles  from 
railway.    Working  with  the  school  house  beside  it,  it  has  controlled  the 
life  of  its  community  for  the  last  46  years.     The  result  of  this  kind  of 


LOCUST  GROVE  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH 


leadership  has  been  the  producing  of  strong  men.  Because  of  the 
service  of  that  church  and  school  have  gone  forth  to  serve  the  world 
two  ministers,  two  judges  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  and  two 
professors  in  colleges. 

33 


Hopewell  Presbyterian  Church,  Holmes  County 

This  church,  standing  in  the  open  country,  is  the  oldest  religious 
organization  in  Holmes  County.  The  present  building  was  erected 
seven  years  ago,  at  a  cost  of  $7,200,  not  including  much  donated 
material  and  labor.  It  is  a  modern  frame  building,  having  four  rooms 
and  a  basement  in  which  are  dining  room,  kitchen,  furnace  room  and 
lighting  plant.  A  commodious  parsonage  with  four  acres  of  ground 
adjoins  the  church.  Both  buildings  and  grounds  are  kept  in  good 
order.  There  are  182  members  on  the  church  roll;  150  are  enrolled 
in  the  Sunday  School. 

This  community  is  smaller  than  it  was  20  years  ago.  consequently 
the  membership  of  the  church  is  less  than  it  was.  On  the  other  hand, 
the  church  is  now  self-supporting,  which  it  was  not  formerly,  and 
besides  supporting  a  pastor  it  contributes  generously  to  benevolences. 

The  pastor  devotes  all  of  his  time  to  Hopewell  Church.  Two  years 
ago  he  organized  a  Farmers'  Club,  which  has  been  superseded  by  a 
Grange.  Socials  of  various  kinds  are  held  in  the  church,  in  the  schools 
and  in  the  homes  of  the  commAmity.  Lectures  and  entertainments  are 
eiven  from  time  to  time  in  the  church.  Rev.  Charles  Marston,  the 
pastor,  is  using  every  means  to  make  Hopewell  Presbyterian  Church 
respond  to  every  need  of  the  community. 

Bloomfield  United  Presbyterian  Church,  Muskingum  County 

Located  in  a  village  of  less  than  a  hundred  people  for  more  than 
half  a  century  this  church  has  maintained  a  strong  congregation.  The 
present  membership  is  230,  one- fourth  of  whom  recently  came  from  a 
rival  church  now  disorganized.  The  union  has  proved  a  happy  one — 
a  new  life  and  a  new  spirit  are  m.anifest. 

An  Every  Member  Canvass  in  March  the  last  two  years  has 
increased  the  offerings  for  missions.  Most  of  the  members  of  the 
church  belong  to  the  Sunday  School  which  is  superintended  by  Mr. 
F.  C.  Simms.  There  is  a  young  men's  Bible  class,  an  organized  class 
of  older  men  numbering  35,  and  a  teacher  training  class.  The  young 
people's  society  give  frequent  socials.  Other  organizations  in  the 
church  give  socials  occasionally.  The  l)uilding  formerly  used  by  the 
disorganized  church  is  to  be  made  a  social  center. 

The  pastor  is  the  Rev.  Dr.  S.  \V.  Gilkey,  who  was  once  a  public 
school  teacher  and  later  a  college  professor,  hence  is  deeply  interested 
in  the  development  of  his  young  people.     Last  year  he  assisted  the 

34 


public  school  teachers  of  adjoining  districts  organize  and  maintain  a 
literary  society.  He  has  helped  start  a  similar  society  for  this  winter. 
Reared  on  a  farm  he  is  deeply  interested  in  scientific  agriculture  and 
takes  an  active  part  in  the  annual  farmers'  institute. 


VII.     CIVIC  EFFICIENCY 

The  number  of  churches  interested  in  affairs  once  called  secular  is 
Tery  great.  Probably  those  here  listed  seem  too  scanty  in  comparison 
Avith  the  whole  number  throughout  the  State  of  Ohio.  But  the  story 
of  these  will  serve  to  remind  us  of  the  many  churches  whose  distinc- 
tion in  the  eyes  of  the  community  is  their  broad  and  catholic  spirit ;  the 
interest  of  their  people  and  their  ministers  in  literary,  social  and 
•economic  concerns. 

The  old  Puritan  minister  was  a  pastor  of  all  his  people.  But  often 
liis  successor  has  inherited  a  doctrine  not  from  the  Puritans,  but  from 
the  Philistines,  that  the  church  should  have  to  do  as  little  as  possible 
v^rith  human  life.  Therefore  the  churches  which  enlarge  their  heart, 
which  lengthen  their  cords  and  strengthen  their  stakes,  in  order  to  give 
satisfactory  shelter  to  every  interest  of  the  whole  community,  are 
am.ong  the  successful  and  efficient  churches. 


Huntsburg  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Geauga  County 

Last  summer  under  the  auspices  of  this  church  a  two  days'  Chau- 
tauqua was  held.  Huntsburg,  a  village  of  225  people,  is  located  in  a 
prosperous  dairying  community.  That  the  IMethodist  Episcopal 
Church  of  Huntsburg  is  interested  in  the  development  of  the  com- 
munity is  shown  by  the  fact  that  'The  Scientific  Production  of  Clean 
Milk"  was  a  subject  lectured  upon  at  the  Chautauqua.  Other  topics 
discussed  were  "The  Modern  Interpretation  of  the  Book  of  Job"  and 
''The  New  Country  Church."  Good  mAisic,  both  instrumental  and 
vocal,  was  furnished.  The  meetings  were  held  in  the  park  in  the  after- 
noon and  in  the  town  hall  in  the  evening. 

Other  enterprises  promoted  by  this  church  are  home  talent  enter- 
tainments, a  lecture  course  and  a  library  of  good  standard  works.     A 

35 


ORWELL    PRESBYTERL\X    CHURCH 


base-ball  team  not  confined  to  church  members,  but  to  "boys  of  the 
town,"  was  organized.  A  new  social  life  has  been  infused  into  the 
church  through  an  organized  young  people's  class.  Rev.  E.  A.  Beale  is 
the  pastor  of  this  church. 


Orwell  Presbyterian  Church,  Ashtabula  County 

The  pastor  of  this  church  has  given  much  attention  to  Country  Life 
Institutes  and  Grange  work.  He  is  a  strong  promoter  of  community 
life,  having  helped  organize  and  direct  a  Civic  League.  This  organi- 
zation is  urging  the  incorporation  of  the  village.  Certain  improvements 
in  the  cemetery  were  made  by  the  League. 

The  library  is  receiving  much  attention.  The  pastor  of  the  Orwell 
Presbyterian  Church  is  president  of  the  Public  Library  Board  and 
money  is  being  raised  to  secure  funds  sufficient  to  have  the  library 
open  every  evening  in  the  week,  to  buy  new  books  and  to  enlarge  the 
building,  in  order  to  have  room  for  athletic  equipment. 

For  three  years  there  has  been  a  lawn  tennis  club,  which  takes  part 
in  tournaments.  This  is  mainly  the  work  of  the  pastor,  who  organized 
the  club  and  has  been  its  president  ever  since.  The  Men's  Bible  Class 
of  the  Sunday  School  is  supporting  in-door  games  this  winter.  Rev. 
Henry  E.  Nicklen  is  pastor  of  the  Orwell  Presbyterian  Church ;  he  is 
also  president  of  the  Civic  League. 

Z6 


VIII.     SOCIAL  LIFE 

If  you  ask  the  young  men  going  into  the  ministry  what  they  pro- 
pose to  do  in  their  daily  association  with  their  people,  in  one  form  or 
another  they  will  answer  that  they  propose  to  organize  the  social  life 
of  the  church.  A  new  insight  into  the  value  of  human  association  and 
the  place  of  God  in  human  society  has  come  to  us.  We  conceive  of  the 
Holy  Spirit  still  creating  and  refreshing  the  world  through  the  social 
mingling  of  men  with  one  another.  Especially  is  this  true  in  the 
country,  where  work  is  solitary  and  social  intercourse  is  a  blessing. 
The  churches  which  have  succeeded  in  warming  up  the  countryside 
with  a  hearty,  cordial  social  spirit  are  many  and  of  them  all  we 
enumerate  doubtless  too  few.  But  their  work  and  their  success  will 
find  an  echo  in  many  churches  which  would  not  confess  the  prominence 
of  social  organization  in  their  methods  of  work. 


Jersey  Presbyterian  Church,  Licking  County 

Three  years  ago  a  basement  was  put  under  the  entire  church.  In 
this  addition  there  is  a  kitchen,  also  reading  and  social  rooms.  The 
basement  has  become  the  center  of  everything  rural ;  is  used  by  the 
school  as  well  as  by  the  church.  Every  year  a  big  Thanksgiving  dinner 
is  given  here  free  of  any  charge. 

The  pastor  is  much  interested  in  athletics.  He  umpires  ball  games 
and  tennis  tournaments.  A  court  for  the  latter  has  been  provided  at 
the  rear  of  the  church. 

\Mthin  the  past  three  and  a  half  years,  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev. 
M.  E.  Wright,  there  have  been  135  additions;  115  of  these  have  been 
on  confession.  The  Christian  Endeavor  Society  of  this  church  fur- 
nished a  school  room  for  a  teacher  in  Chattanooga.  Four  young  men 
of  this  congregation  are  now  preparing  to  enter  the  ministry. 


Church  o£  Christ  at  Bethel,  Clermont  County 

There  are  organized  classes  for  young  people  in  the  Sunday  School. 
Each  of  these  holds  an  annual  picnic.  In  addition  to  these  picnics  the 
Sunday  School  as  a  whole  has  one  each  year.  During  the  past  year 
the  Senior  Christian  Endeavor  Society  had  three  social  gatherings : 
the  Junior  Society  two.  Friends  who  were  not  members  were  invited 
to  these  socials.  This  church  has  250  members  enrolled.  Of  these 
there  are  66  boys  and  92  girls  under  21  years  of  age. 

Z1 


Kilbuck  Church  o£  Christ,  Holmes  County 

In  a  villae:e  of  400  inhabitants  where  there  are  two  churches,  the 
Kilbuck  Church  of  Christ  in  the  past  eleven  years  has  grown  from  a 
membership  of  125  to  300.  In  the  same  period  the  average  attendance 
of  the  Bible  School  has  increased  from  60  to  175.  Since  the  church 
has  been  recruited  largely  through  the  Bible  School,  much  attention 
has  been  given  the  latter.  There  are  organized  adult  classes,  two  of 
which  number  more  than  50.  The  church  building  has  9  rooms  in 
addition  to  5  in  the  basement,  and  there  is  a  complete  equipment  of 
maps.  Bibles,  song  books;  there  is  also  a  library. 

Social  life  has  not  been  neglected.  Several  times  a  year  all  the 
members  of  the  church  eat  together  with  their  friends  in  the  church 
basement,  at  which  time  a  miscellaneous  program  is  rendered. 

One  feature  of  this  church  is  its  magazine  club.  The  men  sub- 
scribe to  the  various  magazines  jointly,  and  then  exchange  them  with 
one  another. 

Another  feature  of  this  church  is  the  ten  deaconesses  who  have 
charge  of  all  charitable  work.  Rev.  W.  R.  Walker  has  been  the  pastor 
of  this  church  for  more  than  eleven  vears. 


IX.     BROTHERHOODS  OF  MEN 

Doubtless  the  Protestant  church  was  managed  too  long  by  the  men,, 
for  we  have  been  brought  up  under  a  reaction  in  which  the  women 
had  taken  efifective  charge  of  affairs.  Slowly  the  churches  are  turn- 
ing again  to  the  cultivation  of  fraternal  life  among  the  men.  It  is 
a  pity  that  so  long  the  church  neglected  the  fraternal  interest  of  its 
male  members.  Lodges  have  been  formed  of  good  men  all  over  the 
country,  especially  in  the  Middle  West,  to  satisfy  the  need  for  which 
the  church  offered  nothing.  No  other  method  is  more  fruitful  in  de- 
veloping the  whole  life  of  the  church  than  attention  to  the  needs  of 
the  men  of  the  community,  and  in  many  places  this  attention  has 
brought  abundant  fruit.  The  following  are  but  a  few  of  the  churches, 
so  doing.    May  their  number  greatly  increase. 

38 


Germantown  United  Brethren  Church,  Montgomery  County 

The  outstanding  feature  of  this  church  is  its  organization  of  60 
men  who  constitute  the  Brotherhood.  These  men  assume  the  respon- 
sibiHty  of  directing  and  promoting  the  material  interests  of  the  church. 
All  the  money  needed  for  church  maintenance  is  raised  by  a  committee 
of  16  men.  Some  committees  have  charge  of  the  social  activities ; 
others  assist  the  pastor  in  other  ways. 

Under  the  leadership  of  the  pastor  and  the  Brotherhood  the  church 
building  was  recently  remodeled  at  an  approximate  cost  of  $30,000. 
The  church  to-day  lias  all  the  conveniences  of  the  best  equipped 
churches. 

During  the  past  three  years  $26,500  has  been  raised  among  its  mem- 
bers, most  of  whom  are  retired  farmers,  few  of  them  living  in  the 
open  country  at  present.  The  success  of  this  church  is  largely  due  to 
the  influence  of  the  pastor  who  has  proved  himself  an  efficient  or- 
ganizer. 


UERMANTOWX  LWITED  BRETHREN  CHURCH 


Dalton  Presbyterian  Church,  Wayne  County 

In  1909  a  Brotherhood  was  organized.  Ever  since  that  time  the 
work  of  the  men  of  this  church  has  been  prominent.  When  one  of 
the  members  was  ill  with  typhoid  fever  the  Brotherhood  put  out  his 
wheat  and  cut  and  husked  his  corn.     They  paid  the  doctor's  bill  for  a 

39 


EATING   WATERMELON   AT    THE    DALTON    PRESBYTERIAN 
SUNDAY   SCHOOL  PICNIC 

boy  who  had  broken  his  leg.  The  men  of  the  Brotherhood  act  as 
ushers  at  the  church  services.  The  decorating  of  the  church  for 
Children's  Day  was  done  by  them.  Last  year  the  Brotherhood  en- 
tertained the  ladies  of  the  church ;  both  luncheon  and  program  were 
furnished  by  the  men. 

In  six  years  this  Sunday  School  has  increased  in  average  attendance 
from  70  to  140.  It  now  enrolls  200  members.  There  are  35  men  in 
the  Brotherhood.  On  Rally  Day  76  men  were  present.  The  super- 
intendent of  the  Sunday  School  is  a  wide-awake  business  man  :  the 
teacher  of  the  Brotherhood  is  a  successful  district  school  teacher. 
Both  superintendent  and   teachers  are  well  equipped   for  their  task. 

This  church  has  214  members,  107  of  whom  have  joined  during  the 
past  six  and  a  half  years.  In  April,  1914,  the  centennial  of  its  found-' 
ing  will  be  celebrated.  Presl)ytery  will  meet  in  Dalton  at  that  time. 
This  village  has  600  people  living  in  it.  There  have  been  two  Local 
Option  Campaigns ;  both  times  the  town  and  county  voted  dry.  The 
men  stand  together  for  the  most  part  on  the  question  of  temperance. 
Rev.  J.  V.  Findlay  is  the  pastor  of  this  church. 

Madison  Presbyterian  Church,  Columbiana  County 

This  church  has  been  organized  for  almost  three  quarters  of  a 
century.  It  is  situated  in  the  open  country  about  midway  between 
Lisbon  and  East  Liverpool. 

40 


The  Brotherhood  of  this  church  has  promoted  a  *'Home-Coming 
Day"  and  a  Country  Life  Institute.  Mr.  A.  P.  Sandals,  State  Secre- 
tary of  Agriculture,  and  Rev.  George  W.  Brown,  Synodical  Evangel- 
ist, had  part  in  the  Country  Life  Institute. 

The  pastor.  Rev.  Leard  R.  Wylie,  as  well  as  the  membership  of  the 
church,  take  an  active  part  in  anything  that  will  better  the  commun- 
ity. To  this  end  they  have  identified  themselves  with  the  Grange 
nearby.  But  they  always  remember  that  the  church  is  first,  and  they 
center  their  interests  around  it. 


ANOTHER  SCENE  AT  THE  DALTON  PRESBYTERIAN 
SUNDAY  SCHOOL  PICNIC 


X.     SUITABLE  BUILDINGS 


When  the  farmer  comes  into  his  own  and  is  permitted  to  harvest 
the  prosperity  for  which  he  has  labored  through  nearly  two  gener- 
ations of  poverty,  he  will  rebuild  the  country  church.  A  few  such  in- 
stances are  at  hand,  but  their  number  is  very  small.  A  suitable  building 
is  as  necessary  to  a  growing  church  as  a  sound  body  is  to  a  good  and 
intelligent  man.  It  is  impossible  to  develop  a  good  Sunday  School, 
a  warm  and  friendly  social  life,  or  even  a  sound  financial  system  in 

41 


a  one-room  country  church.  A  single  cell  cannot  house  an  organiza- 
tion. So  that  the  churches  in  Ohio  which  have  built  suitable  structures 
in  the  country  have  a  great  advantage  in  facing  the  future. 

Mt.  Zion  Reformed  Church,  Greene  County 

This  is  the  best  building  and  operating  plant  in  the  open  country 
in  Greene  County.  It  is  a  white  pressed  brick  building,  erected  in 
1912,  at  a  cost  of  $13,500.  It  contains  five  rooms;  dining  room, 
kitchen,  nursery,  Sunday  School  room  and  auditorium.  It  has  a 
strong  Sunday  School  which  supplements  the  work  of  the  church. 
Twenty  young  men  and  women,  with  an  average  age  of  seventeen 
years  joined  the  church  from  the  Sunday  School  last  year.  One  of 
the  unique  features  of  the  church  is  a  portico  built  out  over  the  drive 
at  the  back  of  the  building.  Here  under  shelter  the  people  can  alight 
from  their  carriages  in  severe  weather. 

The  church  for  the  past  hundred  years,  in  spite  of  changing  con- 
ditions, has  not  only  held  its  own,  but  maintained  a  steady  growth, 
having  at  present  a  membership  of  154.    Rev.  J.  F.  Tapy  is  the  pastor. 


MT.  ZlON  REFORMED  CHURCH 

42 


BRISTOL  PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH 

Bristol  Presbyterian  Church,  Morgan  County 

This  churcli  congregation  was  long  undecided  whether  to  repair 
its  old  one-room  structure  or  build  a  new  one.  Finally  the  latter 
course  was  decided  upon  and  in  1912  a  modern  and  satisfying  church 
home  was  built  and  dedicated.  The  new  building,  which  was  erected 
at  a  cost  of  $5,500,  contains  an  auditorium,  a  room  for  the  Session, 
another  for  social  purposes,  a  kitchen  and  a  furnace  room.  This  is 
the  best  country  church  plant  in  Morgan  County.  It  stands  in  the 
open  country,  seven  miles  from  any  village.  There  is  a  Grange 
near  the  church.  Every  year  a  Farmers'  Institute  has  been  held  at 
the  Grange;  this  year  an  Ohio  State  University  Extension  School 
will  be  held  there.  An  awakening  community  spirit  is  manifest.  Per- 
haps nothing  has  more  naturally  aided  in  this  than  the  common  sac- 
rifice necessary  to  the  building  of  the  Bristol  Church.  The  com- 
pletion of  this  structure,  so  well  equipped  to  become  a  social  center, 
should  mark  a  new  era  in  the  history  of  the  church  and  community. 


New  Burlington  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Greene  County 

The  Epworth  League  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  New 
Burlington  conducts  a  lecture  course  each  year,  which  has  always 
been   a   financial   success.      The   church   recently   bought   an   old   two 

43 


story  house  in  the  village.  The  lower  lloor  of  this  has  been  converted 
into  a  parlor,  kitchen  and  dining  room.  All  meetings  other  than  re- 
ligious are  held  in  this  building.  The  Masonic  Lodge  rents  the  upper 
part  and  this  rental  income  maintains  the  expense  of  the  building. 
Rev.  H.  Killender,  New  Burlington,  Ohio,  is  pastor. 


XL     MUSICAL  CHURCH 

Americans  are  not  aesthetic.  We  are  still  a  young  and  a  raw- 
people.  Our  community  hfe,  except  in  the  great  cities,  offers  little  of 
beauty  or  of  culture  to  its  people,  and  very  often  the  attempts  at  artis- 
tic or  musical  expression  are  crude  and  unsound  in  principle.  The 
time  wall  come  wdien  every  country  community,  enriched  with  a  pro- 
found religious  feeling  and  educated  in  eft'ectiveness,  will  have  its  own 
medium  of  happiness.  The  church  here  mentioned  has  a  great  dis- 
tinction in  its  music.  Would  that  every  American  community  valued 
itself  for  two  things;  a  product  made  by  the  hands  of  its  citizens  and 
an  artistic  expression  in  which  it  excelled.  Neither  of  these  distinc- 
tions of  community  life  will  ever  be  attained  without  the  promoting 
and  inspiration  of  a  religious  spirit. 

Gomer  Congregational  Church,  Allen  County 

This  church  is  known  throughout  Northwestern  Ohio  for  its  fine 
music.  Under  the  leadership  of  Mr.  George  W.  Williams  excellent 
congregational  singing  has  been  developed.  Everybody  has  a  book 
and  everybody  sings.  The  church  renders  a  quality  of  music  that  is 
rarely  heard  outside  of  churches  in  large  cities.  At  the  Conference 
held  last  October,  1913,  the  choir,  numbering  between  fifty  and  sixty 
voices,  rendered  eight  anthems,  four  quartettes,  double  quartettes, 
duets  and  solos  with  no  outside  assistance.  During  the  summer  months 
people  come  from  the  city  to  hear  and  to  enjoy  the  singing  at  Gomer 
Congregational  Church. 

Two  years  ago  the  large  lecture  room  was  opened  to  the  Farmers' 
Institute.  At  first  the  proposal  of  such  action  aroused  opposition,  but 
the   congregation   soon   came  to   the   realization   that   their  first   duty 

44 


was  to  the  community.  The  doors  of  the  church  were  thrown  open 
and  everybody  was  invited  to  the  Farmers'  Institute.  The  same  poHcy 
was  pursued  last  year  with  encouraging  results. 

The  church  building  is  in  excellent  condition.  A  new  slate  roof 
was  put  on  it,  and  a  furnace  and  lighting  plant  were  installed  during 
the  past  summer.  The  entire  building  was  painted  and  frescoed  and 
concrete  walks  were  arranged  around  it.  These  repairs  required  funds 
amounting  to  $1,500,  all  of  which  were  secured  by  the  pastor,  Rev. 
\\'illiam   Surdival   in   three   davs. 


XII.     AN  EVANGELISTIC  CHURCH 

It  is  strange  that  among  the  Ohio  rural  ministers  who  were  asked 
to  interpret  the  success  of  their  churches  only  one  replied  in  terms 
of  evangelism.  Obviously  the  work  of  a  pastor  is  the  best  evangel- 
ism. Undoubtedly  in  the  story  of  all  distinguished  churches  in  rural 
Ohio  evangelism  has  a  large  part.  The  personal  work  and  the  or- 
ganization for  gospel  efficiency  here  described  are  included  in  many 
other  churches  and  wrought  into  the  texture  of  many  of  the  stories 
in  this  list. 

Alexandria  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Licking  County 

With  the  mottoes  in  mind  "Discover,  win  and  find  a  place  for  every 
natural  leader,"  and  "Arouse  the  few  and  the  few  will  arouse  the 
many,"  the  pastor  of  the  Alexandria  Methodist  Church  secured 
united  efifort  in  winning  the  men  of  the  community.  At  first  he  had 
only  a  handful  of  helpers,  but  they  were  willing,  and  soon  through 
the  pastor's  guidance  clearly  saw  the  needs  and  possibilities  of  their 
church.  ]\Iany  of  these  men  enlisted  as  personal  workers  in  the  re- 
vival campaign  which  added  158  new^  members.  This  revival  was  not 
the  work  of  an  evangelist,  but  directly  due  to  the  cooperative  eft'orts 
of  the  pastor  and  his  helpers.  A  Brotherhood  with  "The  Glad  Hand" 
as  a  motto  was  organized.  The  church  now  has  380  members,  124  of 
whom  are  men.  Rev.  Karl  B.  Alexander  is  the  man  to  whom  credit 
is  due  for  the  marked  progress  that  has  been  made  by  this  church. 

45 


XIII.     AN  AGRICULTURAL  CHURCH 

Every  one  of  the  churches  in  this  story  is  a  farmer's  church;  but 
some  of  them  look  away  from  the  farm.  Very  often  the  effect  of  a 
country  church  or  a  country  school  is  that  it  furnishes  a  ladder  to 
get  out  of  the  country.  All  rural  churches  should  dignify  the  life  of 
the  farmer  and  should  teach  the  young  the  virtues  of  the  fathers  of 
the  community.  So  far  as  a  church  has  power  to  influence  the  com- 
munity life  it  should  interpret  the  life  of  those  around  about  it,  on 
the  broad  presumption  that  the  sons  of  the  farm  wherever  they  go 
will  have  a  religious  reward  in  honoring  and  in  understanding  the  life 
of  their  parents. 

It  is  curious,  however,  that  very  few  churches  in  Ohio  are  dis- 
tinguished by  what  some  have  called  "rural-mindedness."  Probably 
more  than  one  might  so  be  found,  but  the  church  here  described  holds 
up  the  ideal  of  simplicity,  homeliness  and  loyalty  to  the  rural  economy. 
Undoubtedly  the  life  in  this  church  tends,  as  an  economist  has  in- 
sisted it  should,  ''to  make  of  Christian  people  better  farmers." 

Sonnenberg  Mennonite  Church,  Wayne  County 

This  growing  church  in  the  open  country  has  503  members,  498  of 
whom  live  in  the  country.  These  people  not  only  have  their  names 
on  the  church  roll,  but  always  attend  unless  unavoidably  prevented. 
The  average  Sunday  morning  congregation  numbers  475.  The  Son- 
nenberg Mennonite  Church  has  built  up  a  stable  community;  as  evi- 
denced by  the  fact  that  86  per  cent  of  the  farmers  in  the  county  are 
owners.  The  young  people  have  charge  of  the  evening  service,  which 
has  an  average  attendance  of  250.  That  the  relation  in  this  church 
between  good  farming  and  good  religion  attracts  the  men  is  shown 
by  the  fact  that  18  of  the  24  Sunday  School  teachers  are  men. 


XIV.     SUMMARY 


Ohio  is  a  representative  state.  The  findings  of  the  Ohio  Rural  Life 
Survey  have  an  authority  in  every  state  in  the  Union,  especially  in 
those  states  having  a  common  tradition  and  a  population  similar  unto 

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that  of  Ohio.  Certainly  the  findings  in  this  Survey  correspond  in 
general  showing  to  country  churches  throughout  the  United  States. 
They  may  be  summarized  as  follows:  the  country  church  is  doing 
well  where  it  has  certain  definite  factors  in  its  life.  No  other  church 
is  doing  so  well  with  so  little  artificial  reinforcement.  The  minister 
in  the  country  is  the  happiest  man  among  his  brethren,  if  his  work 
possesses  certain  characteristics.  They  may  be  briefly  described  as 
follows : 

First,  the  country  church  needs  a  resident  minister. 

Second,  the  country  church  needs  a  full  development  of  the  Protes- 
tant organization.  It  needs  not  so  much  any  eccentric  or  peculiar 
treatment,  as  a  normal  development  of  the  church.  Country  people 
need  a  good  organization.  No  matter  where  they  have  it,  the  result 
is  the  same.  Something  to  hold  them  together,  to  create  a  sound  social 
life,  to  teach  the  principles  of  cooperation,  mutual  obedience  and  the 
subordination  of  one  to  another  and  to  keep  alive  the  idea  of  self- 
sacrifice  in  the  interest  of  a  larger  whole  and  a  greater  purpose, — this 
is  the  great  need  of  the  country. 

Third,  in  all  parts  of  the  country,  as  in  Ohio,  the  ministry  of  the 
church  to  the  whole  community,  whether  symmetrically  expanding 
upon  all  or  definitely  attacking  a  particular  problem,  is  a  factor  in 
success.  The  ministers  who  serve  in  community  churches  boast  of 
their  work  as  no  other  ministers  do.  It  may  be  that  their  pride  is 
in  the  fraternal  society  of  men ;  it  may  be  that  they  boast  of  the  work 
among  boys  or  of  the  organizing  of  a  library  or  reading  room,  of 
lighting  the  streets,  the  inception  of  a  bank  or  other  service  institu- 
tion. But  in  whatever  way  it  comes,  the  church  in  the  country  that 
deals  in  wholes,  and  not  in  fractions ;  that  ministers  in  a  large  way 
and  not  merely  to  individuals,  is  a  happy  and  a  great  institution. 

Fourth,  everywhere,  the  church  that  ''does  things"  is  the  success- 
ful church.  We  are  not  surprised  if  we  find  in  this  list  churches 
which  have  distinction  for  the  mere  fact  of  having  erected  a  new 
building.  Nowadays  doctrine  makes  little  impression  upon  the  mind 
of  those  "whose  hearts  God  has  touched."  But  action  and  service 
and  the  accomplishing  of  fixed  purposes,  these  things  cheer  the  saints 
and  challenge  the  sinners,  so  that  even  to  have  built  a  new  church 
is  a  good  thing. 

Fifth,  the  eccentric  or  peculiar  church  does  not  make  much  im- 
pression upon  the  devout  observer  in  the  country,  yet  a  few  such 
churches  with  one  peculiar  line  of  distinction  are  worth  noting.     On 

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1    1012  01235  2904 


the  whole,  the  great  need  of  the  country  is  a  well-rounded,  devout, 
Bible-teaching  organization,  in  which  regenerated  men  and  women 
can  find  a  home  for  their  hearts,  a  machinery  for  the  accomplish- 
ing of  their  ideals  and  a  house  in  which  their  social  and  communal 
needs  may  be  sheltered.  The  church,  whatever  it  do,  must  be  the 
body  of  Christ  to  its  members. 


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